Liam Payne, the 31-year-old English singer and former member of the boy band One Direction, died Wednesday, October 16, after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to local authorities.
The National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office reported that Payne suffered multiple traumas and hemorrhages from the fall. Buenos Aires police issued a statement saying Payne fell from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel, sustaining “extremely serious injuries,” and was declared dead at the scene by medics.
A preliminary autopsy report released Thursday confirmed that Payne died from “polytrauma and internal and external bleeding” due to the multiple traumatic injuries sustained from the fall. The report indicated that Payne was likely alone when the incident occurred.
Authorities found substances in Payne’s hotel room, suggesting alcohol and drug consumption before his death. The investigation so far indicates the musician was under the influence and alone when he fell. A toxicology report is still pending.
A local official cited by the Associated Press said Payne “had jumped from the balcony of his room,” with forensic experts later explaining the position of his body suggested he “did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself and that he could have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness.”
Police were reportedly rushed to the scene just after 5 p.m. local time after the hotel’s manager placed an emergency 911 call complaining about a guest “under the influence of drugs and alcohol” who had “destroyed some objects in the room.” The manager also expressed concern that the guest “has a balcony, and we are afraid they might do something to put their life at risk.”
Payne’s family released a statement to British media Thursday: “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.” The other four former members of One Direction released a joint statement Thursday afternoon on Instagram, saying they were “completely devastated” by Payne’s passing and will “take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly.”
Payne’s former bandmates all made individual statements on Instagram starting Thursday. Zayn Malik postponed the U.S. portion of his tour—which has shows scheduled for this month—due to “the heartbreaking loss experienced this week,” writing Saturday that shows will be rescheduled for January. Previously, Malik said though he and Payne “butted heads,” he feels he “lost a brother.”
Niall Horan, whose concert Payne attended just two weeks prior to his death, called Payne “the brightest in every room” and said he feels “so fortunate I got to see him recently.” Louis Tomlinson praised Payne as the “most vital member of One Direction,” and Harry Styles called his time with Payne “among the most cherished years of my life.”
Simon Cowell, the “X Factor” creator and judge who put One Direction together in 2010 after all five members auditioned as individuals, and signed them to his record label, said he feels “heartbroken” and “empty” in a statement Friday afternoon.
Payne’s ex-girlfriend Cheryl Cole, with whom he had his son Bear, said on Instagram she is working through her grief and urged the media to stop “exploitation” of Payne’s death. Cole was a judge on the “X Factor” panel for both of Payne’s auditions in 2008 and 2010, and the two dated between 2016 and 2018.
Payne’s girlfriend Kate Cassidy said in an Instagram story Friday she is “at a complete loss” and asked for space to grieve, stating she loves Payne “unconditionally and completely.” Cassidy, whom Payne had dated off-and-on since 2022, was with Payne in Buenos Aires until Monday, the day she posted a TikTok video filming her journey from Argentina back to Florida.
Shawn Mendes stopped his concert in Brooklyn on Friday to pay tribute to Payne, saying, “The world is crying for you, brother, and we’re all praying for your son and your family.” And Payne’s sister, Ruth Gibbons, posted an emotional message on Instagram, saying, “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”
One Direction’s music surged on the Spotify charts following Payne’s death. The band was the most-streamed artist in their native United Kingdom on Thursday and ranked No. 2 on the global Spotify artists chart. The band’s song “Night Changes,” one of its biggest hits with a sentimental message about growing older and the fleeting nature of life, was the sixth most-streamed song worldwide on Spotify the day after Payne’s death. “Night Changes” also ranks No. 6 on TikTok’s weekly chart of trending songs, as fans use it in videos to pay tribute to Payne.
Payne was a member of One Direction—a band put together by judges on the British show “The X Factor” in 2010—along with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. They did not win the season, but the group saw astronomical success after the show and went on to have stadium tours and a number of pop hits including “Story of My Life” and “Best Song Ever.” The band announced it would take a temporary hiatus in 2015, though Malik had left earlier that year.
Payne then pursued a solo career and released his first solo album, LP1, in 2019, before continuing to make pop, hip-hop, Latin, and electronic music. Payne talked about his struggle with addiction in recent years, and said he suffered from suicidal thoughts while he a member of One Direction. In a 2023 YouTube video, Payne said he spent 100 days in rehabilitation and had “more of a grip on life and everything that was getting away from me” after being sober.
Payne had four charting songs and one Billboard Top 10 hit in his solo career, 2017’s “Strip That Down” featuring Quavo. He released his most recent song, “Teardrops,” earlier this year.
